"A lot of people trivialize this sort of thing. They say it's shallow and think it's just a media stunt used to sell magazines and perpetuate the image of Hollywood being based on looks. And that's totally true," the Maroon 5 frontman, not being entirely serious, said on Wednesday night's Jimmy Kimmel Live. "But I'm completely cool with that."

He thanked his mother and father – "both incredibly sexy," he said, "especially my dad ... thanks, man" – and "Ryan Gosling for turning this down constantly. That really helped my campaign."

Adam Levine on Jimmy Kimmel Live

He also tipped his hat to his predecessors, "George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, George Clooney, George Clooney, Brad PItt, Johnny Depp and George Clooney, of course."

Clutching an Oscar-like statue with a vanity mirror where the head should be, Levine additionally acknowledged 1992 choice Nick Nolte and displayed a mock PEOPLE cover with the actor's mug shot.

"People of America," said Levine of this year's SMA, "great choice. And you're welcome."